PIL in SC seeks legal action against Justice Markandey Katju for tarnishing Indian judicial system

A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking legal action against former Supreme Court Judge, Justice Markandey Katju by making defamatory allegations while deposing before a court in the United Kingdom in the Nirav Modi case and bringing disrepute to the Indian judicial system.

Last week, Justice Katju deposed before a UK Court in relation to the extradition case against fugitive businessman Nirav Modi.

In his deposition, Katju said that Modi was subjected to “media trial” in India and that in such a “hostile atmosphere”, it is unlikely that he would receive a free and fair trial in India and that Modi may be turned into a “convenient scapegoat”.

The PIL filed by the petitioner Nand Kishore Garg alleged that Justice Katju tarnished the Indian judicial system’s image by insinuating the defamatory allegations while deposing before the Westminster Magistrate Court in London. The petitioner alleged that in doing this, Justice Katju cast aspersions on the Indian judiciary which would affect public confidence in the legal system.

The Petitioner stated that Katju’s statements must pass a broad guideline on issues of public criticism/maligning of the judicial system and its serving judges especially from those who served the highest institution of our country, and also sought a direction that a high powered court-monitored committee be set up to look into the ‘highly contemptuous and disparaging remarks made by  Justice Katju’ questioning the integrity of the judicial system our country.

According to the petition, “The allegation made by Justice Katju has eroded the faith and trust of common people in judiciary. It is high time that the Indian judiciary must come up with exemplary action against those people who are routinely lowering down the integrity of the judicial system by leveling extremely atrocious and fake allegation for their personal publicity.”

It also added that the image of the Indian judiciary has lowered down following the highly derogatory deposition by such serious allegations by Justice Katju only to protect the interest of the fugitive accused. He prayed that the Indian judiciary must not take this issue casually because such derogatory deposition made the entire judiciary suspect in the eyes of international community.